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Bloomfield #2

Simple Beginnings

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Ella Page planned to spend her summer before college like most girls her age - shopping, tanning, swimming, repeat. Instead she finds herself helping out on her grandma's farm, where she is forced to work side by side with her ex-best friend, Gage Hunter. Despite her attempt to stay cool around the boy she no longer feels like she knows, the heat in the summer air just won't stop rising. And with it, old feelings she's not so sure were forgotten after all.

* 17+ Mature YA / New Adult. This book contains some strong language and sexual situations. For mature audiences.

ebook

First published January 1, 2014

19 people are currently reading
223 people want to read

About the author

Janelle Stalder

29 books379 followers
Janelle Stalder was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario. At an early age she developed a love for literature. Her debut novel, Eden, was the first book in a series of four, released in September of 2011. Since then she has released an Adult Dystopian Romance series, the New World Series, hitting the best sellers list on Amazon. She has also released a Mature YA/NA novel, Brush Strokes, that stayed on the best sellers list for contemporary romance for sixteen straight weeks. She is a strong supporter of other independent authors and loves to interact with her readers.

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5 stars
50 (30%)
4 stars
62 (38%)
3 stars
40 (24%)
2 stars
9 (5%)
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2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey).
1,528 reviews483 followers
March 12, 2015
Quick review:

Cover: Pretty
Rating: NC-17
Thumbs Up: 4
Overall: Loved It
Characters: Well Done
Plot: When friends become lovers
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Gage

SUMMARY (50 words or less)
I’m totally in love with Gage. I loved how the story unfolded at the right pace. I loved the tension and the angst between the characters. I just love this author and her story telling.

For a full review and yummy pic, see my blog post at:
Coming soon 3/13/15
Profile Image for Valeria.
217 reviews230 followers
July 14, 2015
4.5 stars actually.

I’ve said this before, and I will say it again, Janelle Stalder is a genius with a pen. This is her second contemporary novel and I can without doubt assert I loved it even more than the first. I really enjoyed seeing this new side to Ella, more introspective and mature you could say. She’s still the same cheerful and positive girl, but we get to see a deeper side of her, which I really enjoyed.

What I enjoyed the most, was the romance of course, after all it is the main focus of the story, be warned. I could really feel the chemistry and connection between Ella and Gage, and the build-up between them was superb. It wasn’t a slow burning romance per se, but they did take their time. It was very well done, and it was almost impossible not to root for them.

An honourable mention is due to Ella’s grandma. She was so adorable. Firm, yet sweet and forgiving. Loved her character, I felt it added so much to the story, that something extra that made it special and memorable.

In sum, if you are a romance fan and are looking for something light and sweet for the Summer, then this may be the book for you.
Profile Image for Talltree.
2,081 reviews25 followers
no-dnf-zzz-avoid
June 27, 2015
DNF
Book maybe good but I'm in no mood to read the whole virgin manho thing.
The H has been whoring around since he was 14 yrs old, he's practically slept with everyone possible in his high school - his antics are legendary in his town apparently - and when the book opens he's been celibate for a month and thats a dry spell for him. He's flirting with the h the same time as he's hanging out with other girls at parties and thinking of sleeping with them bcos the h has him ' wound up' - maybe he eventually does sleep with them, whatever.
I wouldn't really care about this so much but the h she's a virgin and she's never had a relationship( both are 19yrs old) bcos she's hung up on the H, she knows all about his antics yet she gives him the time of the day...
The book just made me too mad to continue...so dnfing.
Profile Image for Iva.
637 reviews98 followers
December 20, 2015
I just love Janele Stalder books, they're so innocent and sweet but a whole lotta hot - a perfect mix. Ella was cool in the first book, but now we see her emotional side. Gage was simply amazing, a simple man with no great ambitions but be with his girl and work the farm together. And I gotta say that sounds mighty appealing, there's something to be said for simplicity.
I'm not a big fan of friends to lovers stories, but this one was great.
Profile Image for Kayleigh {K-Books}.
1,187 reviews19 followers
February 22, 2015
Simple Beginnings Review on K-Books

"I want to be everything to you the way you're everything to me."

There are no words to explain just how freaking excited I was when this book arrived in my inbox. I have been such a huge fan of Janelle Stalder ever since I read her debut Eden and now I can't help but devour each and every book she puts out. Simple Beginnings was everything I could have wanted and more. It melted my heart and utterly blew me away.

Ella wanted to spend her summer before college with her friends, shopping, swimming and working on her tan. The last thing she wanted to do was move two hours away to work on her Nan's farm but Ella will do anything for her Nan. But when she finds herself face-to-face with her childhood best friend Gage. The person who unknowingly broke her heart years ago and now she has to work side-by-side with him on her Nan's farm. As she tried to keep her distance Ella finds her feelings towards Gage growing. Can she trust him with her heart or is she going to end up broken again?

Janelle Stalder is without a doubt one of the best authors I have ever had the pleasure of reading her work. It really saddens me that she isn't as well known as she really should be. Her writing style is just utterly phenomenal. Within a few paragraphs of chapter one I was totally hooked yet again and I could not put her book down... not for anything. It's a good job I was off work the day I picked this up because I literally forgot about everything and ended up devouring the book in one sitting. I adored it so much.

Ella was such a fantastic character. We were introduced to her briefly in Brush Strokes and I was so excited that she was getting her own book and I loved her even more in this. She was so feisty and the more I read the more I adored her. She reminded me a little bit of me as she was so hard-headed and determined which I definitely am. I just adored her.

Gage... Oh. My. Gage! I am officially in love with a new fictional boy. Gage is the guy everyone will fall in love with because he is smexy and swoony and will make everyone's hearts just melt. He was beautiful and wonderful and I adored him so much. I am completely and utterly head-over-heels in love and I remember thinking that if Ella didn't want him then I would gladly take him off her hands.

Simple Beginnings was just the perfect book that I needed. I adored every moment of it. It really was phenomenal which is a lot coming from me as I find myself repeatedly bored with a lot of NA Contemporary novels as I find them pretty much the same but this one just kept me hooked it was wonderful and read so differently to all the others. It was pure perfection.

Simple Beginnings was everything I could have wanted and more. It was a perfect love story with phenomenal characters and an addictive writing style. It kept me hooked from start to finish and I cannot wait for more books from Janelle Stalder. I would recommend this book to everyone it was utterly perfect! A must-read!

"You've had me bewitches my whole life, Ella Page. There's never been anyone else that could hold my heart the way you do."
Profile Image for Angie.
210 reviews29 followers
March 10, 2015
This was a refreshing, sweet, and romantic New Adult romance that I got lost in, and in turn, finished in one sitting. The story revolves around Ella and Gage, who were childhood best friends from the age of 4 to 10, when Ella moved away. They had one run-in at age 14, where Ella saw Gage at a party and was disappointed that he turned into one of THOSE guys, you know, the ones who sleep around, drink, and don't care about anyone but themselves. Now Ella is getting ready to go away for college, but has to go help her Nan on her farm where she realizes Gage is also there for summer help.

This is a sweet book that tells from both points of view. I smiled, cried, and laughed through this book. It's definitely worth the read.

I received this book as ARC for exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Layla.
555 reviews
June 14, 2015
4 Stars!!

A really sweet read! <3
Profile Image for Kinsey Faucette.
241 reviews13 followers
March 29, 2016
Another Fresh Young Adult

This was a great addition to the Bloomfield Series. It too was a refreshing young adult soft romance novel with a great plot that was offered quiet fluidly through out the novel.
Profile Image for Becci.
248 reviews6 followers
Want to read
August 16, 2014
When is this one coming out? I can't wait to read Ella's story!
Profile Image for Jiyoung.
1,368 reviews8 followers
March 9, 2016
Cute, young, country couple!
I enjoyed this adorable story.
And Olivia & Colt are still cute!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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